Self-inflatable pocket disposable umbrella

ABSTRACT

A compact, self-inflatable pocket or purse umbrella which is usable once, and then disposed. The umbrella is provided with a combination carrying case and handle in which a propellant is housed within the case in a pressure vessel having a frangible part. The umbrella is provided with means for simply and rapidly deflating the umbrella when it is desired to dispose of the umbrella.

United States Patent Kirley SELF -INFLATABLE POCKET DISPOSABLE June 17, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS UMBRELLA 940.977 II/I963 United Kingdom 206/DIG. [76] Inventor: Joseph F. Kirley, 27 Fairfield Ave, l,632.5l2 7/l970 Germany .1 l/20 B South Norwalk, Conn. 06854 1,442,639 6/]965 France .1 l35/20 B 22 Filed: Feb. 20, 1973 I 1 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Cnlllam [2]] Appl. No.: 333,479 Assisranr Examiner-Alex Grosz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alfred E. Miller [52] US. Cl. 135/195 511 lm. Cl A4Sb 19/02; Ab 15/00 ABSTRACT Field Of Search 4 B, C, A compact elflinflatable pocket 0r purse umbrella 52/2; 206/DIG. 30, 522; 46/90 which is usable once, and then disposed. The umbrella is provided with a combination carrying case and han- I56I References Cited dle in which a propellant is housed within the case in UNITED STATES PATENTS a pressure vessel having a frangible part. The umbrella 209.317 12/1882 Peace 135 20 B is Provided with mean-5 for Simply and rapidly deflat- 2.l l8.l 5/l938 Christopher eta], Zoe 30 ing the umbrella when it is desired to dispose of ihe 2,625,946 [/1953 Kaston et al. l35/2O B umbrella 2,698,496 I/l955 Miller 46/90 2.810.391 10/1957 Jones. Jr. /20 B 1 Clam, 4 Drawmg Flgures 38 38 1W ll l t 1 1 \IA 1 Ill 1 1 l l' Ill} Z1 Z4 34 12 m r ll "Il SELF-INFLATABLE POCKET DISPOSABLE UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many umbrellas have been devised which are the socalled inflatable type. These umbrellas are provided with sealed channels into which air is pumped by an outside means through a valve member. In these constructions, there was no intention to make the umbrella truly a disposable pocket or purse umbrella that would be of great utility when the user found himself or herself exposed to a downpour, and which could be freely discarded after a single use. The object of the known inflatable umbrella constructions was to make the umbrellas compact and more easily portable, but not to reduce the cost of the same so that they could be freely disposed of after a single use.

The present invention relates to a self-inflatable, portable, and disposable umbrella.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable umbrella that is both compact and lightweight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a durable, disposable, compact umbrella that is easily opened and easily deflated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure vessel housed in the handle of the inflatable umbrella which is frangible thereby permitting the escape of non-toxic and non-flammable gaseous propellant to rapidly inflate the ribs of the umbrella.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low cost umbrella that is reliably effective for the purpose intended.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of my inflated umbrella, with part broken away, and constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the inflated umbrella;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional and a partial elevational view of the present inflated umbrella showing the ruptured pressure vessel protrusion resulting in the escape of gaseous propellant to inflate the inflatable rib sections of the umbrella; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inflatable umbrella in its closed condition prior to use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a self-inflatable, disposable pocket or purse umbrella referred to generally by the number is shown, which comprises an outer case 12 preferably fabricated of plastic material having a pointed internal projection 22 in the proximity of the bottom of the case. The umbrella portion itself comprises inflatable rib channels 16 each of which are wider at the junction 18 of all of the inflatable ribs and taper to a narrower cross-section 16a at the periphery of the umbrella. The rib channels 16 are connected by web parts 20. It is intended to manufacture both the inflatable ribs 16 and the web parts 20 of high strength polyethylene material; however, it should be borne in mind that other materials may be utilized within the teachings of the present invention.

The carrying case 12, which is flexible, is provided with an internal protrusion or projection 22 located near the bottom thereof which is sufficiently pointed for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. A pressure vessel 24 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 positioned in the bottom of outer case 12 adjacent to the projection 22. The pressure vessel 24 has a frangible protrusion 26 which is in the line of internal movement of the projection 22 in the case I2. Thus, by pressing the outer case 12 at the appropriate location, the point 220 of the projection 22 ruptures the frangible protrusion 26 at the notch 28 causing the top of the protrusion 26 to fall away at 27 (FIG. 3). It should be apparent that the breaking of the protrusion 26 releases the pressure in the pressure vessel 24 permitting the liquid propellant therein to escape as a gas and to inflate the ribs I6 through an inflatable envelope housed within the outer carrying case 12. Since the pressure vessel 24 is hermetically sealed within the inflatable envelope 30, the escaping gas is contained within both the inflatable envelope 30 and the inflatable rib sections 16. The foregoing portions of the umbrella inflate to a predetermined pressure which is sufficient to maintain a rigid fully open umbrella. The outer case 12 serves as a han dle for the umbrella and is provided with a gripping surface 32 to ensure that the handle does not slip from the users grasp.

When using the present device, it is desirable to first open the top 34 of the outer case 12 and pull out and shake the inner polyethylene material, being the rib channels 16 and the web parts 20. This is necessary in order to be certain that no folds remain in the material when the same is inflated. It will be noted that the t 34 remains connected to the umbrella by means of a tab 36. The latter is affixed to a seam 38 in the junction area 18.

ln order to collapse or deflate the umbrella, the top 34 is grasped and pulled outwardly. This action tears open the seam 38 thereby permitting the quick escape of the gas in the rib channels 16 and inflatable envelope 30 to the atmosphere through a rather large opening. The collapsed umbrella may then be discarded.

It is intended to merchandise these disposable umbrellas in a single container carrying a plurality of these items so that they are readily available in an emergency situation. In any event, the overall length of each of the uninflated, disposable umbrella units is intended to be about 4 inches. The present construction results in a disposable pocket umbrella that is easily opened, provided excellent protection against rain and sleet, may be easily and rapidly deflated, and is of such a low cost that is can be discarded after a single use.

The fact that the present product can be readily discarded does not cause a pollution problem, since most of the material of the umbrella, when properly incinerated, will break down into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor. If the disposed umbrella is used as a land fill, the umbrella material acts as a noncontaminating inert matter, and therefore does not deleteriously affect the soil.

What is claimed is:

l. A single-use, self-inflatable, disposable, pocketsize umbrella comprising a carrying case provided with a non-slip external gripping surface, said carrying case having a length of approximately 4 inches, a cover for said carrying case capable of being removed therefrom but remaining connected thereto, an umbrella part having interconnected inflatable rib channels, a pressure vessel provided with a frangible part, a propellant in said pressure vessel, the bottom of said case being pro- 4 least one of said inflatable rib channels whereby when the tab is pulled in a predetermined direction said channel is opened and the pressurized gas in said rib channels escapes to the atmosphere permitting the umbrella to collapse to a compact form for ready disposal. 

1. A single-use, self-inflatable, disposable, pocket-size umbrella comprising a carrying case provided with a non-slip external gripping surface, said carrying case having a length of approximately 4 inches, a cover for said carrying case capable of being removed therefrom but remaining connected thereto, an umbrella part having interconnected inflatable rib channels, a pressure vessel provided with a frangible part, a propellant in said pressure vessel, the bottom of said case being provided with an internal projection for selectively rupturing said frangible part of the pressure vessel when said carrying case is squeezed whereby said propellant inflates said inflatable rib channels to open the umbrella, said carrying case being the handle for the umbrella, saiD connection between said carrying case and cover being a tab interconnection between said cover and at least one of said inflatable rib channels whereby when the tab is pulled in a predetermined direction said channel is opened and the pressurized gas in said rib channels escapes to the atmosphere permitting the umbrella to collapse to a compact form for ready disposal. 